Kate Sumner, Auckland Council

Document name

Sentence from The Auckland Plan 2050

Original sentence

Over time, the urban nodes will provide opportunities and land for business near deep labour pools with an interconnected transport network. This will result in greater flexibility and choice for businesses across the region..

Rewritten sentence

As our urban areas grow, they will provide local workers and better transport links to support more business opportunities.

Judges’ comments

The writer turned a confusing sentence full of jargon into clear, accessible language that saves readers time and effort. The original sentence used unfamiliar terms like ‘urban nodes’ and ‘deep labour pools’. The rewrite replaced these with simple, familiar words. This change made the meaning more precise and easier to understand.

The writer reduced the word count from 34 to 19 words — a 44% reduction, while keeping the meaning intact. The rewrite has a logical flow that takes readers from urban growth to business development to the labour and transport networks that support it.

The judges praised how the rewrite talks directly to the reader. The sentence structure is straightforward and easy to follow. This is an excellent example of how plain language can make government planning documents more accessible to all Aucklanders.

Media statement

At Auckland Council, clear communication is at the heart of how we serve our communities. The important information we provide to Aucklanders often covers complicated subjects and processes. Every word we write should help people understand, act on information and feel confident engaging with us. Plain language makes that possible.

This award recognises more than just one transformed sentence — it represents our shared commitment to being open, accessible and easy to understand. When our information is clear, people can make informed choices about their homes, communities and city. It also takes away some of the stress involved in complex rules and processes, from applying for a building consent to putting up a business sign.

I’d like to thank my colleagues across the Digital team who champion plain language every day by rewriting, rethinking and refining content to make sure our information is clear, accurate and helpful.

Thank you also to the judges for recognising the importance of clarity in public communication. It’s a privilege to be part of a team — and a council — that values it so highly.

Kate Sumner
Content Advisor
Auckland Council